SALT LAKE CITY - On July 12, 2024, Governor Polis joined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as he addressed the National Governors Association summer convening in Salt Lake City.

“Colorado and the United States are proud partners in President Zelenskyy’s fight to protect Ukraine and Europe from dictator Vladimir Putin. Putin’s brutal and globally destabilizing war poses a grave threat to Ukraine, the global order, and the U.S. and its allies. I thanked President Zelenskyy for his and Ukraine’s bravery in the face of Russian aggression,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis.

Since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine began, Governor Polis and his administration have taken significant steps to support Ukraine and condemn Putin’s actions.

- Governor Polis directed state agencies to terminate any contract with Russian state-owned contractors or subcontractors.

- The Polis Administration ensured future procurement efforts analyze any possible connection with Russian state-owned companies.

- At Governor Polis’s direction, Higher Education Institutions divested from Russian State-owned companies.

- Colorado PERA also quickly divested $7.2 Million from a Russian bank and Governor Polis urged them to completely divest the PERA Trust Fund from all Russian State-Owned companies.

- Colorado cut diplomatic ties with Russia.

- The Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) collected and sent ballistic helmets and surplus body armorto Ukraine.

- Using executive action, Governor Polis directed the Office of New Americans to support Ukrainian-born Coloradans and embrace those fleeing Putin's violence.